# Cell and Tissue Imaging

> **NIH NIH P30** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $103,408

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: Cell and Tissue Imaging Core
 Advanced cellular microscopy is a powerful tool for biological research and plays an important role in
the study of the pathogenesis and eventual treatment of diabetes mellitus. Imaging technology has evolved
rapidly over the last decade leading to improvements in resolution, sensitivity and speed that have created new
opportunities for studying processes across many orders of magnitude and in real-time in living cells and
animals. However, the costs of increasingly sophisticated equipment are substantial and the expertise to
efficiently use, maintain, and develop this equipment is not common in most labs. There is therefore a
significant gap between the availability of these powerful tools and the ability of investigators to access and use
them efficiently. The Cell and Tissue Imaging Core was established in response to feedback from DRC center
members to leverage the significant institutional investment in the newly created Washington University Center
for Cellular Imaging (WUCCI) by providing an integrated approach to investigate the structure and dynamic
behavior of diabetes-related cells and tissues. The overall objective of the Core is to provide access to
and technical support in using advanced cellular microscopy to accelerate the pace, expand the scope,
and improve the efficiency of diabetes research at Washington University. Core services meet the unique
requirements of numerous investigators over a wide range of basic and translational research and attract new
investigators into diabetes research. Importantly, users benefit from the in-depth diabetes and technical
expertise of the Core directors and technical staff in time spent in consultation for experimental design and
interpretation of data. During the past funding cycle, the Core served 67 DRC investigator research
laboratories (including 14 P&F recipients), who expensed $788,342 in core recharges, representing
approximately 18% of all WUCCI activity. Eighteen DRC member laboratories received micro-grant funding
through the DRC Imaging Core Scholarship program. Ten of these labs were directed by junior faculty
members at the rank of Assistant Professor. Thirty-five publications used and cited core services. Given the
broad use of the Core over the past funding cycle, and the establishment of new imaging technologies (e.g.
cryo-EM and lattice lightsheet), sample preparation services (e.g. tissue clearing), and analysis approaches
(e.g. AI-based immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent image analysis), it is anticipated that requests for
Cell and Tissue Imaging Core services will continue to grow. The substantial demand by DRC members for
advanced microscopic imaging and image analysis is strong evidence that the Cell and Tissue Imaging Core
provides services that leverage generous institutional support and unique expertise to facilitate important and
innovative diabetes research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10820537
- **Project number:** 5P30DK020579-47
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** James Alexander Fitzpatrick
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $103,408
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1996-12-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10820537

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10820537, Cell and Tissue Imaging (5P30DK020579-47). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10820537. Licensed CC0.

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